Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Nasr on August 21, 2019, 03:14:09 pm
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and I found an Osage tree. My heart started pounding and the devil started to whisper. I live in Michigan and I have heard of them growing here but I have never seen one. I really don't want to go to prison but I am not gonna lie I feel like I can get away with it. It was straight about 7 feet tall and had hedge apples small ones but I spotted them instantly. Continued walking and found this house that had one on its front lawn. I don't know what is going on I feel like I am being set up. Like someone wants me to cut it so they can catch me. If only that person knew that there was gold growing in his front yard. Honestly if I knew I could get away with it I would probably cut it down. The one in the park not the house.
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Ask if you can trim a branch they might tell you to take the whole tree.
most people I’ve met hate Osage, thorns and wood that’s hard on chainsaws.
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Where is this park in Michigan. :o
Seriously it might not be a bad idea to talk to both the house owner and someone at the park. Another thing is now you know it's growing in the area. Maybe some of the tree trimmers in the area run across some.
Bjrogg
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There are a lot of open land around me with trees and I am gonna go walking around and see if i can spot some if i do i will be buying a ski mask :D
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I may or may not have done some selective wood poaching in the past.
$40-100 on a stave is much cheaper than lawyer fees, court costs, fines, and criminal records. There is a reason they say crime does not pay. Especially in the days where everyone walking past has a camera phone, lots of cctv, trail cam's, dash cam's etc.
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Talk to the park department or the city forester to find out if they consider Osage to be invasive. They might let you cut it down to save labor and wear and tear on their equipment. If it is you might be able to convince that home owner to let you cut the one and replace it with a native tree. Don't do anything illegal, it ain't worth it.
Hawkdancer
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Explain to whomever you talk to why you want the osage. Tell them you are learning how to make primitive archery equipment and osage was traditionally used by the Native American as one of their bow woods. And if you get permission be sure to prune the branch off properly so you don't damage the tree and clean up after yourself.
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There is a piece of land that is gated that has a bunch of trees it also has a private property sign on it I was thinking if I spot an Osage tree there I will try to get contact information and ask for permission.
100 bucks on a stave is a no go for me with my current situation. The wife would kill me.
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There is a piece of land that is gated that has a bunch of trees it also has a private property sign on it I was thinking if I spot an Osage tree there I will try to get contact information and ask for permission.
100 bucks on a stave is a no go for me with my current situation. The wife would kill me.
I understand not having the $100 and I suspect your kidding about the ski mask. I'm pretty sure your wife would really be upset with fine and legal costs.
I'm thinking if you keep looking and knocking on doors you'll find the person you're looking for. Then you have lots of work to do and better start looking for a good place to store it. Good Luck. I know it grows here in Michigan. I've never seen it but I know others who have. I do have a couple tiny saplings I planted that I got from Ed. Man I miss that guy. Hope he's ok.
Bjrogg
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There is a piece of land that is gated that has a bunch of trees it also has a private property sign on it I was thinking if I spot an Osage tree there I will try to get contact information and ask for permission.
100 bucks on a stave is a no go for me with my current situation. The wife would kill me.
Only way I'd pay 100 bucks for a stave is if I could get 3 bows from it, or it was one of those insane snakey staves. Maybe for a new guy if it has a ring chased and is it down to very basic dimensions it might be worth it, but if I cost me 100 bucks per stave, id take a hike too. Screw that.
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There is a piece of land that is gated that has a bunch of trees it also has a private property sign on it I was thinking if I spot an Osage tree there I will try to get contact information and ask for permission.
100 bucks on a stave is a no go for me with my current situation. The wife would kill me.
Only way I'd pay 100 bucks for a stave is if I could get 3 bows from it, or it was one of those insane snakey staves. Maybe for a new guy if it has a ring chased and is it down to very basic dimensions it might be worth it, but if I cost me 100 bucks per stave, id take a hike too. Screw that.
Wait maybe I am misinformed where do you get your staves from sleek? If I can get three bows from a stave for 100 I would gladly pay that.
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I know how you feel. I’ve been pruning a mulberry in a park by me for two years to develop some nice staves. I don’t think I’ll ever cut it but it’s fun to check on it and pick a few berries every 5 or 6 weeks.
I wonder if I could transplant a sucker or graft a limb hmmmm.
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Always ask permission, lust for wood shouldn't turn any of us into thieves, we are better men than that.
For 25 years I have been asking permission to cut osage, pull osage out of burn piles and to salvage trees downed from various causes. I have never been turned down, ever.
I just made this rhyme up "if you show them a bow they will let it go", worked for me every time.
This was my latest, pushed down by a city dozer to make room for a parking lot. One call to the Sheffield Al road department and it was mine.
(https://i.imgur.com/lqDognb.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/rgGGTbs.jpg)
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Eric,
That is a nice bunch of "raw" staves and billets!
Hawkdancer
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I saw a guy that had a lot of trees on his lot. I brought one of my bows over and and told him what I did, and offered to make him a bow if we could cut a good tree (elm, in this case) from his lot. Turns out, he loves to hunt, loves archery and woodworking. He was amazed by my bows, and grabbed his chainsaw. We went out back and cut not one, but three trees down, and he loaded me up with staves. I made him a bow that he loves, and I made a new friend out of the interaction. A way better result than sneaking around with a ski mask would have been.
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I think if you ask, they will let you cut it,,
probably the one in the yard to if you ask,,,wont hurt to try
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Damn Eric, You've got a nice set up there, tractor and trailer. Wow!
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Osage is kinda spotty in my area I have found some on public hunting ground by the river. I’ve been tempted to cut it but haven’t got the nerve yet. Would be my version of government cheese.
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Figure out who administers that ground and check out how to get a cutting permit, firewood, POL or products other than lumber. Scout the hunting potential, too! :-D :G (B) (-_) -C-
Hawkdancer
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Just wait for a big storm...
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A big storm... Because an osage tree might blow down, or because you won't be able to hear the noise of a chainsaw? :)
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Government cheese was offered not just for the taking and a tree blown down by a storm still belongs to someone so taking without permission is still stealing and probably trespassing. )-w(
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Governments sure work in mysterious ways. I had to Google it. :D
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It’s on the army Corp of engineers and they hand out wood permits for downed wood only so it’s a no go unless it blows down. Even if it did I wouldn’t go through the permit process it’s a lot easier getting a yes from a private land owner. Would be nice if public land was easier to get wood from I know they do it because someone would try and make a business out of it.
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I saw a guy that had a lot of trees on his lot. I brought one of my bows over and and told him what I did, and offered to make him a bow if we could cut a good tree (elm, in this case) from his lot. Turns out, he loves to hunt, loves archery and woodworking. He was amazed by my bows, and grabbed his chainsaw. We went out back and cut not one, but three trees down, and he loaded me up with staves. I made him a bow that he loves, and I made a new friend out of the interaction. A way better result than sneaking around with a ski mask would have been.
That's how it should be Jeff. And I bet the friendship is the most valuable thing you got from him.
Bjrogg
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As for my tractor; the tree in the picture is the only one I have cut since i bought the tractor. All of the other 300 or so staves I collected were procured the hard way, splitting on site and carrying, dragging or end over ended to my truck to haul away, the truck was never close to the tree I was cutting.
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Maybe talk to a park worker or groundskeeper before you go to park office or management. Tell him what you want and why and ask him if anyone would miss that tree and when would be a good time to cut. Then you put a 12 pack in his truck and everyone’s happy. Just a thought